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As I mentioned in the previous post, I was joined by local resident Bill Travers, who has helped update me on the status of the 311 project through e-mail the past couple years. He showed me several additional areas to check out. I will also include photos showing what construction has started along US 220 in the Asheboro area.

I. I-74/US 311 Freeway, Design-Build SectionA. Spencer RoadNot much new to report here, still a place where most of the clearing and grading equipment is being parked.

B. Banner Whitehead RoadThere has not been much progress clearing the section north of the roadway:Though there was progress on demolishing the farm to the south of the road, here is all that is left of the buildings, most of which were still standing in July:If anyone needs some cement bricks, this is the place to go to. We then proceeded back to 311 to take a left after the water tower onto-

C. Nelson Park RoadThis is a road that dead ends at a house, the freeway cuts the house off from the rest …

I traveled Sunday 8/29 to view the latest progress on the I-74/US 311 Freeway between Business 85 in High Point and US 220 in Randleman, plus check up on the new construction project along 220 in Asheboro. During the visit from Cedar Square Road south I followed along with Bill Travers, a local resident who has been helping me keep up to date on area construction projects. Part 1 will describe progress on Phase 1 of the project from Business 85 to Spencer Road, while Part 2 will describe progress and new locations to view Phase 2 to US 220 and remark about changes in plans for this part of highway since the Design-Build section was let.

Part 1 - Business 85 to Spencer RoadA. Baker RoadAs seen in the photo below, the last grading of the temporary road has been completed, the ground now needs seeding and wet weather for something to grow on it:The views to the south and north actually look less complete than last month due to landscaping work covering up the completed asphalt roadway. He…

On Monday, August 23 I drove to Wilson to attend NCDOT's Informational Workshop for the 'Interstate 95 Corridor Planning and Finance Study' or 'Driving 95' project held from 4-7PM at the Ellis Convention Center. This meeting was one of 7 meetings held from mid to late August. The purpose according to NCDOT is 'to provide information regarding the proposed study and obtain public input' or as I heard one NCDOT official say, so that after we run our models to develop a plan, no one can say 'you screwed up by forgetting the problems at this or that interchange' in your plan.

NCDOT itself says it hasn't done a lot of work itself on the I-95 just, the displays and maps were presented by representatives of 2 contractors. It was this data presented by the contractors that NCDOT wanted feedback. One contractor had gone the length of I-95 and determined any problems at each interchange. They also looked at problems with I-95 itself between exits. They too…

In July, I traveled out to Portland, Oregon for work. Though I had a hectic schedule and did not have access to a vehicle, I did have sometime to walk around Downtown Portland. Maggie was kind enough to lend me her Nikon CoolPix camera for the trip, and my entire photoset on Flickr is here.

Being from Pittsburgh, I have a fond appreciation of bridges and different styles. In North Carolina, we don't have many truss, cantalever, suspension bridges around to cross on a daily basis. In Portland, it's different - from the century old Hawthorne Bridge:

Or the bascule Morrison Bridge:

Portland's bridges over the Willamette River are certainly a combination of age, style, and functionality.

Another impression leaving aspect of Portland is the amount of green - specifically green spaces. This includes Tom McCall Waterfront Park. The land occupying the park was once part of the Harbor Drive Freeway. The once main North/South route through the city was removed in 1974, and th…